

AntiSocial
BBC Radio 4
Peace talks for the culture wars.
In an era of polarisation, propaganda and pile-ons, AntiSocial offers an alternative: understanding, facts, and respect. Each week, Adam Fleming takes on a topic that's generating conflict on social media, blogs, talk shows and phone-ins and helps you work out what the arguments are really about.
In an era of polarisation, propaganda and pile-ons, AntiSocial offers an alternative: understanding, facts, and respect. Each week, Adam Fleming takes on a topic that's generating conflict on social media, blogs, talk shows and phone-ins and helps you work out what the arguments are really about.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 7, 2025 • 53min
Surrogacy
An online debate about whether surrogacy should be allowed was energised this week after actress Lily Collins and her partner announced they had a baby by surrogate on Instagram. In this episode, we explore what surrogacy is like when you're not a celebrity including hearing from a woman who was a surrogate for her best friend. In the UK surrogacy is legal but it can't be done for money. We assess calls to change the law and find out where the movement in opposition to surrogacy comes from. Presenter: Adam Fleming
Producers: Josephine Casserly, Beth Ashmead Latham and Emma Close
Production coordinator: Janet Staples
Editor: Penny Murphy

Feb 4, 2025 • 6min
What is Nature?
As politicians weigh up what trade-offs with the natural world they’re willing to make in pursuit of growth, we look at how our understanding of our role within (or alongside) nature has shifted over time. Dr Andy Flack from the University of Bristol talks Adam Fleming through the various influences, changes and discoveries that have altered how we view our natural environment.

Jan 31, 2025 • 54min
Bats v trains
Do we have to choose between conserving nature and growing the economy?The Chancellor Rachel Reeves has been complaining about the £100m being spent on a tunnel to stop bats being squished by trains on the HS2 railway line. A debate about whether looking after the environment is getting in the way of developing Britain's infrastructure has ensued. Is nature conservation getting in the way of economic growth - and can there only be one winner?Presenter: Adam Fleming
Producers: Josephine Casserly, Simon Tulett, Beth Ashmead-Latham
Editor: Penny Murphy
Production coordinator: Janet Staples
Studio engineer: Andy Mills

Jan 28, 2025 • 6min
What is ‘critical race theory’?
It’s a term that comes up a lot in debates about race, racism, and diversity, but it’s sometimes misunderstood and misused. Adam Fleming speaks to Ali Meghji, associate professor in social inequalities at Cambridge University, to find out what ‘critical race theory’ really means, and why some are critical of it.

Jan 24, 2025 • 54min
Mental health and race
Reports that psychology students at a UK university were separated by race to learn about ethnicity and "whiteness" have prompted a row over racism and mental health. Some of the sessions, The Telegraph claims, were designed for white students to take responsibility for colonialism. King's College London says the sessions have been mischaracterised and that they were open to all students. We dig into what's really been going on, and ask whether separate spaces for different ethnicities are helpful or divisive. Plus, to what extent do mental health services in the UK have a problem with race - we hear the key statistics. And we explore a phrase that keeps coming up in this debate - "critical race theory".Presenter: Adam Fleming
Producers: Emma Close, Josephine Casserly, Simon Tulett
Production coordinator: Janet Staples
Editor: Penny Murphy

Jan 21, 2025 • 6min
Tech bros and mixed martial arts
Several big tech bosses, including Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk, have recently taken up mixed martial arts (MMA) and jiu-jitsu. Miles Klee, a writer at Rolling Stone magazine, has spoken to fight trainers in Silicon Valley and tells Adam Fleming what might be behind the trend.

Jan 17, 2025 • 53min
"Masculine energy": Does the workplace need more of it?
When Mark Zuckerberg appeared on Joe Rogan's podcast last week he said that the corporate world has moved away from masculine energy and is “pretty culturally neutered.” A culture that "celebrates aggression" can be positive, he claimed. Does the workplace need more masculine energy? Do businesses need aggression and competitiveness to succeed? Presenter: Adam Fleming
Producers: Josephine Casserly, Simon Tulett, Emma Close
Production coordinator: Janet Staples
Editor: Penny Murphy

Jan 14, 2025 • 7min
Why is the definition of Islamophobia disputed?
One of the central themes in the conversation around multiculturalism in Britain is religion. Within that is another debate, one about how to define Islamophobia. Adam Fleming speaks to Lizzie Dearden, journalist and specialist in extremism to learn more about why the term is disputed.

Jan 10, 2025 • 53min
Is multiculturalism a strength?
In the row about child sexual exploitation by gangs - particularly those made up of Pakistani heritage men - some people have begun to question the value of multiculturalism. Shadow Justice Secretary, Robert Jenrick, suggested the law had been applied selectively against grooming gangs "to sustain the myth that diversity is our strength." So what do we mean when we talk about multiculturalism in modern Britain, where did the concept first come from, and what is the evidence that it is a source of strength or weakness? Plus, to explore the complexities in this area, we look at the anguish around one particular idea - Islamophobia. Presenter: Adam Fleming
Producers: Simon Tulett, Emma Close, Jo Casserly
Production coordinator: Janet Staples
Editor: Penny Murphy

Oct 15, 2024 • 7min
What is ‘The Great Replacement’ theory?
In debates about the declining birth rate and immigration numbers, some people bring up ‘The Great Replacement’ theory. It’s especially popular with white supremacists and the far right. What do they mean, and where did the conspiracy theory come from? Adam Fleming speaks to Professor Matthew Feldman - a specialist in right wing extremism.